Display device with touch detection function, electronic apparatus, and method of manufacturing display device with touch detection function

ABSTRACT

According to an aspect, a display device with a touch detection function includes: a touch detection electrode that detects proximity or contact of an object; a drive electrode to which the excitation signal is applied; a first substrate on which the drive elements are provided; a second substrate on which at least one of the touch detection electrode and the drive electrode is provided, the second substrate being bonded to the first substrate to face each other via a sealing member; a conductor that electrically is coupled to at least one of the touch detection electrode and the drive electrode; and a conductor support member that fills a space between the first substrate and the second substrate and on the surface of which the conductor is provided.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to Japanese Priority PatentApplication JP 2012-275145 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Dec. 17,2012, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a touch detection device capable ofdetecting an object approaching from outside, an electronic apparatuswith the same, and a method of manufacturing the display device with atouch detection function.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, a touch detection device, which is referred to as, so-called atouch panel, capable of detecting a physical body approaching fromoutside as an object is attracting attention. The touch detection deviceis combined with a display device, for example, and is used as a devicefor inputting information by displaying various images and the like forinput on the display device.

Examples of the display device combined with the touch detection deviceinclude a liquid-crystal display device. The liquid-crystal displaydevice has a pair of translucent substrates such as glass that arebonded via a sealing member and between which a liquid layer isinterposed. If electrical coupling is required to exchange signalsbetween one of the substrates and the other one of them, for example,conductive paste can be used in the liquid-crystal display device (e.g.,Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2008-299161(JP-A-2008-299161) (see FIG. 4, FIG. 5, etc.)).

In the technology described in JP-A-2008-299161, the conductive paste isapplied to a side portion of the substrates. This type of wiring isuseful for reducing the thickness of the liquid-crystal display deviceor the like. Incidentally, there may occur a gap between the substratesat the outside of the sealing member. Because the gap is small, theconductive paste may spread caused by a capillary phenomenon. As aresult, in the technology described in JP-A-2008-299161, when finewiring is required, adjacent wirings are electrically coupled, andtherefore a function of wiring may not be exerted.

For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for surely exerting thefunction of the wiring for electrically coupling between the both of thesubstrates at the outer side thereof.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect, a display device with a touch detection functionincludes: a plurality of drive elements that perform a display operationbased on a pixel signal and a display drive signal; a touch detectionelectrode that detects proximity or contact of an object based on anexcitation signal; a drive electrode to which the excitation signalfluctuated at least in level at a predetermined cycle is applied inorder to detect the proximity or the contact of the object; a firstsubstrate on which the drive elements are provided; a second substrateon which at least one of the touch detection electrode and the driveelectrode is provided, the second substrate being bonded to the firstsubstrate to face each other via a sealing member; a conductor thatelectrically is coupled to at least one of the touch detection electrodeand the drive electrode; and a conductor support member that fills aspace between the first substrate and the second substrate at a positionof at least one edge face of the second substrate or in a mannerprotruding in a direction farther away from the sealing member than theposition of the edge face, and on the surface of which the conductor isprovided.

According to another aspect, a display device with a touch detectionfunction includes: a plurality of drive elements that perform a displayoperation based on a pixel signal and a display drive signal; a touchdetection electrode that detects proximity or contact of an object basedon an excitation signal; a first substrate on which the drive elementsare provided; a second substrate on which the touch detection electrodeis provided, the second substrate being bonded to the first substrate toface each other via a sealing member; and a wiring member that includesa conductor for electrically coupling at least the touch detectionelectrode and an electrode provided on a surface of the first substrateand a base material for supporting the conductor, and that is providedbetween the second substrate and the first substrate.

According to another aspect, an electronic apparatus includes thedisplay device with a touch detection function.

According to another aspect, a method is of manufacturing a displaydevice with a touch detection function. The method includes: bonding afirst substrate on which a plurality of drive elements are formed and asecond substrate on which a touch detection electrode is formed using asealing member; injecting liquid crystal into between the firstsubstrate and the second substrate and sealing an injection hole;providing a resin layer at least on an edge face where the touchdetection electrode of the second substrate is pulled out and a portionof a surface of the first substrate; and providing a conductorelectrically coupling to the touch detection electrode on a surface ofthe resin layer.

According to another aspect, a method is of manufacturing a displaydevice with a touch detection function. The method includes: bonding afirst substrate on which a plurality of drive elements are formed and asecond substrate on which a touch detection electrode is formed viasealing member that is protruded at least from an edge face where thetouch detection electrode of the second substrate is pulled out;injecting liquid crystal into between the first substrate and the secondsubstrate and sealing an injection hole; and providing a conductor forelectrically coupling the touch detection electrode of the secondsubstrate and an electrode provided on a surface of the first substrate.

Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will beapparent from the following Detailed Description and the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a configuration example of a display device witha touch detection function according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a basic principle of acapacitive-type touch detection method and illustrating a state where afinger is not in contact with or in proximity to a touch detectiondevice;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an example of an equivalent circuitin the state where the finger is not in contact with or in proximity tothe touch detection device illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a principle of detectionof a touch operation and illustrating the state where the finger is incontact with or in proximity to the touch detection device;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the equivalent circuitin the state where the finger is in contact with or in proximity to thetouch detection device illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of waveform examples of a touch-detection drivesignal and a touch detection signal;

FIG. 7 is a main-portion cross-sectional view of a display unit with atouch detection function;

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a circuit example of the display unit with atouch detection function according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an example of a touch detecting device;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the display device with a touch detectionfunction according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a wiring coupling structure of atouch detection electrode according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the wiring coupling structure of the touchdetection electrode according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a wiring coupling structure of atouch detection electrode according to a comparative example;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the wiring coupling structure of the touchdetection electrode according to the comparative example;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a wiring coupling structure of atouch detection electrode according to a first modification of the firstembodiment;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a wiring coupling structure of atouch detection electrode according to a second modification of thefirst embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a plan view of a wiring coupling structure of a touchdetection electrode according to a third modification of the firstembodiment;

FIG. 18 is a plan view of a display device with a touch detectionfunction according to a fourth modification of the first embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a method of manufacturing the display devicewith a touch detection function according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of another method of manufacturing the displaydevice with a touch detection function according to the firstembodiment;

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of a wiring coupling structure of atouch detection electrode according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 22 is a plan view of the wiring coupling structure of the touchdetection electrode according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 23 is a diagram of a wiring member;

FIG. 24 is a diagram of a wiring member;

FIG. 25 is a diagram of a wiring member;

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of a wiring coupling structure of atouch detection electrode according to a modification of the secondembodiment;

FIG. 27 is a plan view of the wiring coupling structure of the touchdetection electrode according to the modification of the secondembodiment;

FIG. 28 is a flowchart of a method of manufacturing the display devicewith a touch detection function according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 29 is a diagram of an example of an electronic apparatus includingthe display device with a touch detection function according to theembodiment;

FIG. 30 is a diagram of an example of an electronic apparatus includingthe display device with a touch detection function according to theembodiment;

FIG. 31 is a diagram of an example of the electronic apparatus includingthe display device with a touch detection function according to theembodiment;

FIG. 32 is a diagram of an example of an electronic apparatus includingthe display device with a touch detection function according to theembodiment;

FIG. 33 is a diagram of an example of an electronic apparatus includingthe display device with a touch detection function according to theembodiment;

FIG. 34 is a diagram of an example of an electronic apparatus includingthe display device with a touch detection function according to theembodiment;

FIG. 35 is a diagram of an example of the electronic apparatus includingthe display device with a touch detection function according to theembodiment;

FIG. 36 is a diagram of an example of the electronic apparatus includingthe display device with a touch detection function according to theembodiment;

FIG. 37 is a diagram of an example of the electronic apparatus includingthe display device with a touch detection function according to theembodiment;

FIG. 38 is a diagram of an example of the electronic apparatus includingthe display device with a touch detection function according to theembodiment;

FIG. 39 is a diagram of an example of the electronic apparatus includingthe display device with a touch detection function according to theembodiment; and

FIG. 40 is a diagram of an example of the electronic apparatus includingthe display device with a touch detection function according to theembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments for implementing the present disclosure will beexplained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings inthe following order.

1. First Embodiment

-   -   1-1. Overall Configuration    -   1-2. Principle of Detection of Touch Operation    -   1-3. Display Unit with Touch Detection Function    -   1-4. Operation of Display Device with Touch Detection Function    -   1-5. Wiring Coupling Structure for Extracting Touch Detection        Signal from Touch Detection Electrode    -   1-6. Method of Manufacturing Display Device with Touch Detection        Function

2. Second Embodiment

-   -   2-1. Wiring Coupling Structure    -   2-2. Method of Manufacturing Display Device with Touch Detection        Function

3. Application Examples

4. Aspects of Present Disclosure

1. First Embodiment 1-1. Overall Configuration

FIG. 1 is a configuration example of a display device with a touchdetection function according to a first embodiment. A display devicewith a touch detection function 1 includes a display unit with a touchdetection function 10, a control unit 11, a gate driver 12, a sourcedriver 13, a drive electrode driver 14, and a touch detection unit 40.The display device with a touch detection function 1 is a display devicein which the display unit with a touch detection function 10 has abuilt-in touch detection function. The display unit with a touchdetection function 10 is a so-called in-cell type device in which aliquid-crystal display unit 20 using a liquid crystal element as adisplay element and a capacitive-type touch detecting device 30 areintegrated.

The liquid-crystal display unit 20 is a device that sequentially scansand displays horizontal lines one by one according to a scan signalVscan transmitted from the gate driver 12, as explained later. Thecontrol unit 11 is a circuit that transmits a control signal to the gatedriver 12, the source driver 13, the drive electrode driver 14, and thetouch detection unit 40 based on a video signal Vdisp transmitted froman external device, and thereby provides the control so that these unitsoperate in synchronization with one another.

The gate driver 12 has a function of sequentially selecting onehorizontal line, being a target to be driven upon display by the displayunit with a touch detection function 10, based on the control signaltransmitted from the control unit 11.

The source driver 13 is a circuit that transmits a pixel signal Vpix toeach pixel Pix, explained later, of the display unit with a touchdetection function 10 based on the control signal transmitted from thecontrol unit 11.

The drive electrode driver 14 is a circuit that supplies a drive signalVcom to a drive electrode COML, explained later, of the display unitwith a touch detection function 10 based on the control signal suppliedfrom the control unit 11.

1-2. Principle of Detection of Touch Operation

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a basic principle of acapacitive-type touch detection method and illustrating a state where afinger is not in contact with or in proximity to the touch detectiondevice. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an example of an equivalentcircuit in the state where the finger is not in contact with or inproximity to the touch detection device illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 isan explanatory diagram for explaining a principle of detection of atouch operation and illustrating the state where the finger is incontact with or in proximity to the touch detection device. FIG. 5 is anexplanatory diagram of an example of the equivalent circuit in the statewhere the finger is in contact with or in proximity to the touchdetection device illustrated in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a diagram of waveformexamples of a touch-detection drive signal and a touch detection signal.

The touch detecting device 30 operates based on the basic principle ofcapacitive-type touch detection, and outputs a touch detection signalVdet when detecting approach or contact (hereinafter, also referred toas “touch operation” if necessary) of an object (finger or touch pen,etc.). For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, a capacitiveelement C1 has a pair of electrodes, a drive electrode E1 and a touchdetection electrode E2, which are arranged opposite to each other with adielectric body D interposed therebetween. As illustrated in FIG. 3 andFIG. 5, the capacitive element C1 is coupled at one end to analternating-current signal source (drive signal source) Sac, and a pointP as the other end of the capacitive element C1 (hereinafter, alsoreferred to as “the other end P”) is grounded via a resistor R and iscoupled to a voltage detector (touch detector) DET.

When an excitation signal Sg of a predetermined frequency (e.g., aboutseveral kHz to several hundreds of kHz) is applied from thealternating-current signal source Sac to the drive electrode E1 (one endof the capacitive element C1), an output waveform (touch detectionsignal Vdet) appears in the touch detection electrode E2 (the other endP of the capacitive element C1). The excitation signal Sg corresponds toa touch-detection drive signal Vcomt explained later.

In the state where a finger is not contact with (or in proximity to) thetouch detection device (non-contact state), as illustrated in FIG. 2 andFIG. 3, a current I₀ according to a capacitance of the capacitiveelement C1 flows in the capacitive element C1 in association with chargeand discharge of the capacitive element C1. A potential waveform at theother end P of the capacitive element C1 at this time is like, forexample, a waveform V₀ as illustrated in FIG. 6. The voltage detectorDET illustrated in FIG. 3 detects the waveform V₀.

Meanwhile, in the state where the finger is in contact with (or inproximity to) the touch detection device (contact state), as illustratedin FIG. 4, a capacitance formed by the finger acts as if the capacitanceas a capacitive element C2 is applied to the capacitive element C1. Itis understood from the equivalent circuit illustrated in FIG. 5 that thecapacitive element C2 is linearly added to the capacitive element C1. Inthis state, currents I₁ and I₂ flow in the capacitive elements C1 and C2in association with charge and discharge of the capacitive elements C1and C2. A potential waveform at the other end P of the capacitiveelement C1 at this time is like, for example, a waveform V₁ of FIG. 6.The voltage detector DET detects the waveform V₁. At this time, thepotential at the point P becomes a divided voltage potential determinedby values of the current I₁ and I₂ passing through the capacitiveelements C1 and C2. Therefore, the value of the waveform V₁ is lowerthan that of the waveform V₀ in the non-contact state. The voltagedetector DET compares the detected voltage with a predeterminedthreshold voltage Vth, and determines, if the voltage is the thresholdvoltage Vth or higher, the state as the non-contact state. If thevoltage is less than the threshold voltage Vth, then the voltagedetector DET determines the state as the contact state. Thus, the touchoperation can be detected.

The touch detecting device 30 illustrated in FIG. 1 is configured tosequentially scan drive signal applied blocks one by one to detect atouch operation, according to the touch-detection drive signal Vcomttransmitted from the drive electrode driver 14.

The touch detecting device 30 is also configured to output the touchdetection signal Vdet for each drive signal applied block from aplurality of touch detection electrodes TDL, explained later, to besupplied to the touch detection unit 40.

The touch detection unit 40 is a circuit that detects the presence orabsence of a touch operation performed on the touch detecting device 30based on the control signal supplied from the control unit 11 and thetouch detection signal Vdet supplied from the touch detecting device 30of the display unit with a touch detection function 10, and calculatescoordinates or the like of the touch operation in a touch detected areawhen a touch operation is detected. The touch detection unit 40 includesa touch-detection-signal amplifier 42, an analog-to-digital (A/D)convertor 43, a signal processor with a filter 44, a coordinateextractor 45, a noise detector 46, and a detection-timing controller 47.

The touch-detection-signal amplifier 42 amplifies the touch detectionsignal Vdet transmitted from the touch detecting device 30. Thetouch-detection-signal amplifier 42 may include a low-pass analog filterthat removes a high frequency component (noise component) contained inthe touch detection signal Vdet, extracts a touch component, and outputsthe touch component. Each of input terminals of thetouch-detection-signal amplifier 42 is grounded via the resistor R usedto apply a direct current potential (0V). It may be configured toprovide, for example, a switch instead of the resistor R and apply adirect current potential (0V) by turning on the switch at apredetermined time.

The A/D convertor 43 is a circuit that samples each analog signal outputfrom the touch-detection-signal amplifier 42 at a timing synchronizedwith the touch-detection drive signal Vcomt and converts the sampledsignal into a digital signal.

The signal processor with a filter 44 includes a digital filter thatremoves a higher frequency component (noise component) than thefrequency at which the touch detection signal Vdet is sampled andextracts a touch component included in the output signal of the A/Dconvertor 43. The signal processor with a filter 44 is a logic circuitthat detects the presence or absence of a touch performed on the touchdetecting device 30 based on the output signal of the A/D convertor 43.

The coordinate extractor 45 is a logic circuit that calculates, when thesignal processor with a filter 44 detects a touch operation, coordinatesof the position thereof in the touch detecting device 30. Thedetection-timing controller 47 performs the control so that thetouch-detection-signal amplifier 42, the A/D convertor 43, the signalprocessor with a filter 44, and the coordinate extractor 45 operate insynchronization with one another. When noise is included in the outputsignal of the signal processor with a filter 44, the noise detector 46outputs a noise notification signal of a touch detection signal to thecontrol unit 11.

1-3. Display Unit with Touch Detection Function

A configuration example of the display unit with a touch detectionfunction 10 will be explained in detail below.

FIG. 7 is a main-portion cross-sectional view of the display unit with atouch detection function. FIG. 8 is a diagram of a circuit example ofthe display unit with a touch detection function according to the firstembodiment. The display unit with a touch detection function 10 includesa pixel substrate 2 as a first substrate, a counter substrate 3 as asecond substrate arranged opposite to the pixel substrate 2, and aliquid crystal layer 4 interposed between the pixel substrate 2 and thecounter substrate 3.

The pixel substrate 2 includes a thin film transistor (TFT) substrate 21as a circuit board and a plurality of pixel electrodes 22 arranged in amatrix on the surface of the TFT substrate 21. Formed on the TFTsubstrate 21 are, as illustrated in FIG. 8, wirings such as a pixel dataline SGL for transmitting a pixel signal Vpix to a TFT element Tr beinga drive element of each pixel Pix and to the pixel electrodes 22 and ascan data line GCL for driving each TFT element Tr. The TFT substrate 21is, for example, a glass substrate. The liquid-crystal display unit 20illustrated in FIG. 1 has a plurality of pixels Pix arranged in amatrix. Each pixel Pix includes the TFT element Tr and a liquid crystalelement LC. The TFT element Tr is, for example, a thin film transistor,which is, in this case, an n-channel metal oxide semiconductor (MOS)TFT. A source of the TFT element Tr is coupled to the pixel data lineSGL, a gate thereof is coupled to the scan data line GCL, and a drainthereof is coupled to one end of the liquid crystal element LC. Theliquid crystal element LC is coupled at one end to the drain of the TFTelement Tr and is coupled at the other end to the drive electrode COML.

The pixel Pix is mutually electrically coupled to the other pixels Pixbelonging to the same row of the liquid-crystal display unit 20 throughthe scan data line GCL. The scan data line GCL is electrically coupledto the gate driver 12 to be supplied with the scan signal Vscan from thegate driver 12. The pixel Pix is mutually electrically coupled to theother pixels Pix belonging to the same column of the liquid-crystaldisplay unit 20 through the pixel data line SGL. The pixel data line SGLis coupled to the source driver 13 to be supplied with the pixel signalVpix from the source driver 13. Moreover, the pixel Pix is mutuallyelectrically coupled to the other pixels Pix belonging to the same rowof the liquid-crystal display unit 20 through the drive electrode COML.The drive electrode COML is electrically coupled to the drive electrodedriver 14 to be transmitted with the drive signal Vcom (display drivesignal Vcomd and touch-detection drive signal Vcomt) from the driveelectrode driver 14. In other words, this example is configured that thepixels Pix belonging to the same row share one line of drive electrodeCOML.

The gate driver 12 illustrated in FIG. 1 applies the scan signal Vscanto the gates of the TFT elements Tr of the pixels Pix through the scandata line GCL illustrated in FIG. 8 to thereby sequentially select onerow (one horizontal line), as a target to be driven upon display, fromamong the pixels Pix formed in the matrix in the liquid-crystal displayunit 20. The source driver 13 illustrated in FIG. 1 transmits the pixelsignal Vpix to each of the pixels Pix forming one horizontal linesequentially selected by the gate driver 12 via the pixel data line SGLillustrated in FIG. 8. The pixels Pix are configured so that onehorizontal line is displayed according to the transmitted pixel signalVpix. The drive electrode driver 14 illustrated in FIG. 1 applies thedisplay drive signal Vcomd to drive the drive electrodes COML in eachdrive signal applied block that includes a predetermined number of driveelectrodes COML illustrated in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8.

As explained above, the liquid-crystal display unit 20 drives the gatedriver 12 so as to sequentially scan the scan data line GCL, and onehorizontal line is thereby sequentially selected. The liquid-crystaldisplay unit 20 is configured so that the source driver 13 transmits thepixel signal Vpix to the pixels Pix belonging to one horizontal line,and horizontal lines are thereby displayed one by one. Upon the displayoperation, the drive electrode driver 14 applies the display drivesignal Vcomd to a drive signal applied block including the driveelectrodes COML corresponding to the one horizontal line.

The counter substrate 3 includes a glass substrate 31, a color filter 32formed on one face of the glass substrate 31, and the drive electrodesCOML formed on the surface of the color filter 32 which is on theopposite side to the glass substrate 31. The touch detection electrodesTDL being detection electrodes of the touch detecting device 30 areprovided on the other face of the glass substrate 31, and a polarizer 35is disposed on the surface of the touch detection electrode TDL.

The color filter 32 is such that color filter layers in three colors,for example, red (R), green (G), and blue (B) are periodically arrangedand a set of the three colors: R, G, and B is associated with each ofthe pixels Pix illustrated in FIG. 8.

The drive electrode COML functions as a common drive electrode of theliquid-crystal display unit 20 and also functions as a drive electrodeof the touch detecting device 30. In the present embodiment, one driveelectrode COML is arranged so as to correspond to one pixel electrode 22(a row of pixel electrodes 22). The drive electrode COML is configuredso that a drive signal Vcom of a square waveform (the display drivesignal Vcomd and the touch-detection drive signal Vcomt) is applied fromthe drive electrode driver 14 to the drive electrodes COML via a contactconductive pillar having conductive properties (not illustrated).

The liquid crystal layer 4 is used to modulate light passingtherethrough according to the state of an electric field. A liquidcrystal in various modes such as a twisted nematic (TN) mode, a verticalalignment (VA) mode, and an electrically controlled birefringence (ECB)mode can be is used for the liquid crystal layer 4. An alignment filmmay be provided between the liquid crystal layer 4 and the pixelsubstrate 2 and between the liquid crystal layer 4 and the countersubstrate 3, and an incident-side polarizer may be disposed on thebottom side of the pixel substrate 2.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an example of a touch detecting device.The touch detecting device 30 includes the drive electrodes COML and thetouch detection electrodes TDL provided on the counter substrate 3. Thedrive electrodes COML are divided into a plurality of stripe-shapedelectrode patterns extending along the horizontal direction in thefigure. Upon detection of a touch operation, the drive electrode driver14 sequentially supplies the touch-detection drive signal Vcomt to eachof the electrode patterns in a drive signal applied block and performssequential scan driving toward the direction indicated by arrow SC.

The touch detection electrodes TDL have stripe-shaped electrode patternsextending along a direction intersecting with an extending direction ofthe electrode patterns of the drive electrodes COML. Each electrodepattern of the touch detection electrodes TDL is coupled to an input ofthe touch-detection-signal amplifier 42 of the touch detection unit 40.The electrode patterns of the drive electrode COML and the touchdetection electrode TDL which intersect one another forms a capacitanceat the intersection.

By thus doing, the touch detecting device 30 is configured to drive thedrive electrode driver 14 so as to perform sequential scanning on drivesignal applied blocks when a touch operation is detected, and therebysequentially select one drive signal applied block. At this time, thetouch detecting device 30 outputs the touch detection signal Vdet fromthe touch detection electrode TDL to thereby enable touch detection onone drive signal applied block. In other words, the drive signal appliedblock corresponds to the drive electrode E1 and the touch detectionelectrode TDL corresponds to the touch detection electrode E2 in thedetection principle of the touch detection. The touch detecting device30 detects a touch operation according to the detection principle. Asillustrated in FIG. 9, the mutually intersecting electrode patterns areobtained by forming capacitive-type touch sensors into a matrix.Therefore, by scanning over an entire touch detection surface of thetouch detecting device 30, it is possible to detect a position where anobject (finger F in the example of FIG. 9) approaches or contacts thetouch detection surface.

The liquid crystal element LC corresponds to a specific example of“display element” according to the present disclosure. The gate driver12 and the drive electrode driver 14 correspond to a specific example of“scan drive unit” according to the present disclosure. The driveelectrode COML corresponds to a specific example of “common driveelectrode” according to the present disclosure.

1-4. Operation of Display Device with Touch Detection Function

An operation of the display device with a touch detection function 1will be explained below.

The drive electrode COML functions as a common drive electrode of theliquid-crystal display unit 20 and also functions as a drive electrodeof the touch detecting device 30. Because of this, the drive signalsVcom may possibly affect each other. Therefore a display operationperiod being a period for performing a display operation and atouch-operation detection period being a period for detecting a touchoperation are separated from each other, and the drive signal Vcom isapplied to the drive electrode COML in each of the periods. The driveelectrode driver 14 applies the drive signal Vcom as a display drivesignal to the drive electrode COML in the display operation period. Thedrive electrode driver 14 applies the drive signal Vcom as atouch-detection drive signal to the drive electrode COML in thetouch-operation detection period. In the following explanation, thedrive signal Vcom as the display drive signal is described as thedisplay drive signal Vcomd, and the drive signal Vcom as thetouch-detection drive signal is described as the touch-detection drivesignal Vcomt.

The control unit 11 transmits a control signal to the gate driver 12,the source driver 13, the drive electrode driver 14, and the touchdetection unit 40 based on the video signal Vdisp transmitted from anexternal device, and controls these units so as to operate insynchronization with one another. The gate driver 12 transmits the scansignal Vscan to the liquid-crystal display unit 20 in the displayoperation period, and sequentially selects one horizontal line as atarget to be driven upon display. The source driver 13 supplies thepixel signal Vpix to the pixels Pix included in one horizontal lineselected by the gate driver 12 in the display operation period.

The drive electrode driver 14 applies the display drive signal Vcomd tothe drive signal applied block according to the one horizontal line inthe display operation period. The drive electrode driver 14 sequentiallyapplies the touch-detection drive signal Vcomt with a frequency higherthan a frequency of the display drive signal Vcomd to the drive signalapplied block according to the touch detection operation in thetouch-detection operation period, and sequentially selects one drivesignal applied block. The display unit with a touch detection function10 performs a display operation in the display operation period based onthe signals transmitted from the gate driver 12, the source driver 13,and the drive electrode driver 14. The display unit with a touchdetection function 10 detects a touch operation in the touch-detectionoperation period based on the signal supplied from the drive electrodedriver 14 and outputs the touch detection signal Vdet from the touchdetection electrode TDL.

The touch-detection-signal amplifier 42 amplifies and outputs the touchdetection signal Vdet. The A/D convertor 43 converts the analog signaloutput from the touch-detection-signal amplifier 42 into a digitalsignal at a timing synchronized with the touch-detection drive signalVcomt. The signal processor with a filter 44 detects the presence orabsence of a touch performed on the touch detecting device 30 based onthe output signal of the A/D convertor 43. When the signal processorwith a filter 44 detects a touch operation, the coordinate extractor 45calculates touch panel coordinates corresponding to a position of thetouch operation in the touch detecting device 30.

The detection-timing controller 47 performs the control so that thetouch-detection-signal amplifier 42, the A/D convertor 43, the signalprocessor with a filter 44, and the coordinate extractor 45 operate insynchronization with one another. When noise is included in the outputsignal of the signal processor with a filter 44, the noise detector 46outputs a noise notification signal of a touch detection signal to thecontrol unit 11. The control unit 11 controls the detection-timingcontroller 47 to change the sampling frequency of the touch-detectiondrive signal Vcomt.

1-5. Wiring Coupling Structure for Extracting Touch Detection Signalfrom Touch Detection Electrode

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the display device with a touch detectionfunction according to the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectionalview of a wiring coupling structure of the touch detection electrodeaccording to the first embodiment. FIG. 12 is a plan view of the wiringcoupling structure of the touch detection electrode according to thefirst embodiment. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a wiring couplingstructure of a touch detection electrode according to a comparativeexample. FIG. 14 is a plan view of the wiring coupling structure of thetouch detection electrode according to the comparative example. Acoupling structure (hereinafter, also referred to as “wiring couplingstructure”) of wiring electrically coupled to the touch detectionelectrode TDL will be explained below with reference to the figures. Thewiring coupling structure is provided to extract the touch detectionsignal Vdet to the outside from the touch detection electrode TDL of thedisplay unit with a touch detection function 10 provided in the displaydevice with a touch detection function 1.

An electronic component 5 illustrated in FIG. 10 includes at least oneof, for example, the gate driver 12, the source driver 13, and the driveelectrode driver 14 illustrated in FIG. 1. The electronic component 5 iscontrolled by the control signal supplied from the control unit 11illustrated in FIG. 1. In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG.10, conductors 50 each being wiring are electrically coupled to one endsof the touch detection electrodes TDL provided in the display unit witha touch detection function 10, respectively. In the present embodiment,each of the conductors 50 is, for example, conductive paste. Theconductors 50 pass through the edge face of the counter substrate 3 onthe end side of the touch detection electrodes TDL to be electricallycoupled to an electrode 7 provided on the surface of the pixel substrate2. A flexible printed circuit (FPC) board 6 is also electrically coupledto the electrode 7. With this wiring coupling structure, the touchdetection signal Vdet from the touch detection electrode TDL isextracted to the outside of the display unit with a touch detectionfunction 10 via the conductor 50, the electrode 7, and the FPC 6. Theextracted touch detection signal Vdet is input to, for example, thetouch detection unit 40 illustrated in FIG. 1.

All of the pixel substrate 2, the counter substrate 3, and a sealingmember 9 provided therebetween illustrated in FIG. 11 have a certainamount of thickness. The counter substrate 3 is made smaller than thepixel substrate 2 so as not to overlap the electronic component 5 of thepixel substrate 2. Therefore, when the pixel substrate 2 and the countersubstrate 3 are faced with each other and are bonded to each other, thethickness of the display unit with a touch detection function 10 sharplychanges between the pixel substrate 2 and the edge face of the countersubstrate 3 on the end side of the touch detection electrodes TDL. Thesharp change in the thickness causes a step 8 to form between the pixelsubstrate 2 and the edge face of the counter substrate 3 on the end sideof the touch detection electrodes TDL.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, outer peripheral portions of the pixelsubstrate 2 and the counter substrate 3 are bonded to each other by thesealing member 9 to be sealed. However, an outside portion of thesealing member 9 may sometimes enter an inner side of an edge face 3T ofthe counter substrate 3. Therefore, a space S may be formed between thepixel substrate 2 and the counter substrate 3 at the outside of thesealing member 9. In the related art, the space S may cause theconductor 50 to be disconnected at the position of the step 8.

In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the display unitwith a touch detection function 10 has a conductor support member 51between at least one edge face 3T of the counter substrate 3 and thepixel substrate 2. The conductor support member 51 fills the space Sbetween the pixel substrate 2 and the counter substrate 3 at a positionof at least one edge face 3T of the counter substrate 3 or in aprotruding manner in a direction farther away from the sealing member 9than the position of the edge face 3T. The conductors 50 is provided onthe surface of the conductor support member 51. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 11, the conductor support member 51 is a resin layerthat covers a portion at least from the edge face 3T to part of asurface 2P of the pixel substrate 2 and of which size, i.e. thickness,in a direction perpendicular to the surface 2P of the pixel substrate 2or to a surface 3P of the counter substrate 3 becomes thinner with theseparation of the conductor support member 51 from the edge face 3T.Various resins such as thermosetting resin and ultraviolet (UV) curedresin can be used as the resin layer. Particularly, a solventless typeresin of which volume contraction is small upon drying or curing ispreferred as the resin layer. An application width of the pixelsubstrate 2 (width from the step 8 to a resin edge) is preferably set tothe thickness of the step 8 or more. To form the conductor supportmember 51, the resin may be applied a plurality of times.

In the present embodiment, the conductor support member 51 covers thesurface of the electrode 7 as a surface of the pixel substrate 2. Asillustrated in FIG. 7, the pixel substrate 2 has the pixel electrodes 22formed on the surface of the TFT substrate 21 made of glass or so.However, the surface of the pixel substrate 2 includes, in addition tothe surface of the TFT substrate 21 itself, electrodes such as the pixelelectrodes 22 formed on the surface of the TFT substrate 21, wiring,protective films, and the like.

The conductor support member 51 protrudes in the direction farther awayfrom the sealing member 9 than the position of the edge face 3T, and itsthickness becomes thinner with the separation thereof from the edge face3T of the counter substrate 3. Therefore, the conductor support member51 has a slope 51S formed between the edge face of the counter substrate3 and the surface 2P of the pixel substrate 2. The slope 51S is formedto prevent the sharp change in the thickness of the display unit with atouch detection function 10 at the position of the step 8. Moreover, theconductor support member 51 is provided between the pixel substrate 2and the counter substrate 3 to fill the space S. The wiring couplingstructure according to the present embodiment has the conductors 50formed on the surface (slope 51S) of the conductor support member 51.The wiring coupling structure according to the present embodimentelectrically couples the electrode 7 of the pixel substrate 2 and thetouch detection electrodes TDL of the counter substrate 3 using theconductors 50.

A display unit with a touch detection function 110 illustrated in FIG.13 has a wiring coupling structure according to a comparative example.The wiring coupling structure according to the comparative example has aspace S between the counter substrate 3 and the pixel substrate 2 at theposition of the step 8. A conductor 150 is conductive paste, andtherefore, in the wiring coupling structure according to the comparativeexample, the conductor 150 enters the space S as illustrated in FIG. 13.Because the space S is small in size, the conductor 150 having enteredthe space S is spread by its surface tension as illustrated in FIG. 14.A spread portion 150E of the conductive paste electrically couplesadjacent conductors 150 to each other, and this prevents ensuringinsulation between the adjacent conductors 150.

In the wiring coupling structure according to the present embodiment,the conductor support member 51 fills the space S as illustrated in FIG.11. Because the conductor 50 is provided on the surface of the conductorsupport member 51, the conductor 50 is substantially prevented fromentering the space S. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the spreadof the conductor 50 in the space S is substantially prevented, whichensures insulation of the adjacent conductors 50. Thus, the conductor 50can exert the function as wiring for extracting the touch detectionsignal Vdet from the touch detection electrode TDL.

In the wiring coupling structure according to the comparative example,as illustrated in FIG. 13, the conductor 150 covers the edge face 3T atthe position of the step 8, and this leads to a sharp change in theshape of the conductor 150 at a portion covering the edge face 3T, whichcauses disconnection thereof to easily occur. Because the wiringcoupling structure according to the present embodiment has such astructure as above, the conductor support member 51 having the slope 51Ssuppresses the sharp change in the shape of the conductor 50. Thus, thewiring coupling structure according to the present embodiment can reducethe possibility of disconnection of the conductor 50 at the step 8.Moreover, because the conductor support member 51 is resin, it can bemore easily deformed as compared with glass or the like. Therefore, evenif a relative position between the counter substrate 3 and the pixelsubstrate 2 changes, the deformation of the conductor support member 51allows absorption of the change in the relative position between thecounter substrate 3 and the pixel substrate 2. As a result, thedeformation of the conductor 50 due to the change in the relativeposition between the counter substrate 3 and the pixel substrate 2 issuppressed, thus further reducing the possibility of disconnection ofthe conductor 50.

The wiring coupling structure according to the present embodimentelectrically couples the touch detection electrode TDL and the electrode7 of the pixel substrate 2 using the conductor 50 made of conductivepaste. Therefore, electrical resistance can be reduced as compared witha case in which indium tin oxide (ITO) is used for wiring. Theresistance of the conductor 50 using the conductive paste decreases morethan that of the case where ITO is used for wiring, and a touchdetection performance and a detection speed are thereby improved.Particularly, in the in-cell type, because the drive electrode is usedas both the touch-detection drive electrode and a common electrode fordisplay, an effect of improving a touch performance obtained by thepresent embodiment is particularly increased. There is a wiring couplingstructure in which the FPC is electrically coupled to the touchdetection electrode TDL to extract a touch detection signal Vdet fromthe touch detection electrode TDL. In this wiring coupling structure,the electronic component 5 and the FPC 6 illustrated in FIG. 10 overlapeach other, and the thickness of the display unit with a touch detectionfunction 10 is thereby increased by the thickness of the FPC. The wiringcoupling structure according to the present embodiment does not requirethe FPC to be overlapped with the electronic component 5, and theconductors 50 can be arranged so as to avoid the electronic component 5mounted on the pixel substrate 2. Therefore, an increase in thethickness of the display unit with a touch detection function 10 can besuppressed. In addition, by arranging the conductors 50 around theelectronic component 5, interference with both of them can be avoided.As the conductive paste, a paste material including silver particle andresin can be used, for example. A conductive material included in theconductive paste may be copper, carbon, gold, conductive resin, or thelike. The thickness of the conductive paste is preferably set to a valueso that the conductive paste does not interfere with a member such as acover glass disposed on an observer side, and further preferably set tothe thickness of the polarizer or less. A lower resistance of theconductive paste is preferable. To ensure the function of the touchpanel, any material having a surface resistivity of 1Ω/□ (Ω/sq) or lessis preferable. It is further preferable for the conductive paste thatthe surface resistivity from an upper stage to a lower stage of the step8 is 100Ω/□ (Ω/sq) or less.

In the example of FIG. 11, the conductor support member 51 protrudes inthe direction farther away from the sealing member 9 than the positionof the edge face 3T; however, the conductor support member 51 may beprovided up to the position of the edge face 3T. That is, the conductorsupport member 51 may be configured to fill the space S between thecounter substrate 3 and the pixel substrate 2 up to the position of theedge face 3T. In the counter substrate 3 and the pixel substrate 2 eachof which is rectangular in the plan view, the wiring coupling structureaccording to the present embodiment may be applied to any location otherthan the electronic component 5 side illustrated in FIG. 10. Therefore,the conductor support member 51 has only to be provided at the positionof at least one edge face 3T of the counter substrate 3.

The in-cell type display unit with a touch detection function 10 and thedisplay device with a touch detection function 1 including the same needto extract a detection signal of the touch detection electrode TDL. Thewiring coupling structure according to the present embodiment has alsoan advantage that the increase in the thickness of the display unit witha touch detection function 10 or so can be suppressed by applying thisstructure to such an in-cell type display unit with a touch detectionfunction 10 or so and extracting the detection signal of the touchdetection electrode TDL via the pixel substrate 2 (hereinafter, the sameas above).

The present embodiment has explained the example in which the displayunit with a touch detection function 10 is the in-cell type; however,the embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, in the presentembodiment, the display unit with a touch detection function 10 may bean on-cell type device in which the liquid-crystal display unit 20 andthe touch detecting device 30 illustrated in FIG. 1 are different units.

When the display unit with a touch detection function 10 is the on-celltype, the drive electrodes COML are provided on the counter substrate 3as the second substrate. In this way, in the present embodiment, atleast one of the drive electrodes COML and the touch detectionelectrodes TDL has only to be provided on the counter substrate 3 as thesecond substrate. The drive electrodes COML may be provided on anylocation, such as on the color filter side of the counter substrate 3,on the opposite side to the color filter of the counter substrate 3, oron the pixel substrate 2 as the first substrate. Wiring on the step 8using the conductive paste may be coupled only to the drive electrodesCOML, only to the touch detection electrodes TDL, or to both of them.

In the present embodiment, the touch detection electrode TDL and thedrive electrode COML are rectangular in the plan view; however, theembodiment is not limited thereto. The touch detection electrode TDL andthe drive electrode COML may be formed, for example, in a rhombus(diamond shape) in the plan view. When the display unit with a touchdetection function 10 is the on-cell type, the drive electrode COML andthe touch detection electrode TDL may intersect with each other via theinsulating layer or may be insulated from each other by means of bridgeconnection. When the display unit with a touch detection function 10 isthe in-cell type, a target to be coupled through the step 8 using theconductor 50 has only to be the touch detection electrode TDL.Therefore, in the present embodiment, the in-cell type can simplify amanufacturing process more than that of the on-cell type.

First Modification

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a wiring coupling structure of atouch detection electrode according to the first modification of thefirst embodiment. The wiring coupling structure provided in a displayunit with a touch detection function 10 a according to the presentmodification has a structure as the conductor support member, asillustrated in FIG. 15, in which a sealing member 9 a is provided up tothe position of the edge face 3T of the counter substrate 3 or isextended up to a position farther away from the edge face 3T. In theexample of FIG. 15, the sealing member 9 a extends up to a positionfarther away from the edge face 3T, and this portion is an extensionportion 9E.

With this structure, the space S between the counter substrate 3 and thepixel substrate 2 is filled with the sealing member 9 a. The conductors50 cover the edge face 3T, the sealing member 9 a, and the surface ofthe electrode 7 provided on the surface 2P of the pixel substrate 2,and, as explained above, the space S is filled with the sealing member 9a. Therefore, entering of the conductors 50 being the conductive pasteinto the space S is substantially prevented. This allows, as explainedabove, the spread of the conductor 50 in the space S to be substantiallyprevented, thus ensuring the insulation between the adjacent conductors50. Accordingly, the conductor 50 can exert the function as wiring forextracting the touch detection signal Vdet from the touch detectionelectrode TDL.

The extension portion 9E of the sealing member 9 a allows a sharp changein the shape of the conductor 50 provided across the step 8 to besuppressed. As a result, the wiring coupling structure according to thepresent modification enables a reduction in the possibility of thedisconnection of the conductor 50 at the step 8. In addition, becausethe sealing member 9 a is resin, it can be more easily deformed ascompared with glass or the like. Therefore, even if a relative positionbetween the counter substrate 3 and the pixel substrate 2 changes, thedeformation of the sealing member 9 a allows absorption of the change inthe relative position between the counter substrate 3 and the pixelsubstrate 2. As a result, the deformation of the conductor 50 issuppressed, thus further reducing the possibility of the disconnectionof the conductor 50. In the present modification, the sealing member 9 ais extended up to the position away from the edge face 3T of the countersubstrate 3; however, the sealing member 9 a has only to be provided upto at least the position of the edge face 3T so as to fill the space S.Even if the structure is formed in this way, it is also possible toprevent the spread of the conductor 50 in the space S caused by thecapillary phenomenon, thus ensuring the insulation between the adjacentconductors 50.

Second Modification

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a wiring coupling structure of atouch detection electrode according to the second modification of thefirst embodiment. A wiring coupling structure provided in a display unitwith a touch detection function 10 b according to the presentmodification is similar to the wiring coupling structure according tothe first modification. However, the wiring coupling structure accordingto the present modification is different from the wiring couplingstructure according to the first modification in that the size, i.e.thickness, in a direction perpendicular to the surface 3P of the countersubstrate 3 becomes thinner with extension of the edge face 3T of thecounter substrate 3 toward the outside of the counter substrate 3. Theedge face 3T can be processed to such a shape as above by using aprocessing method such as oblique scribing, sandblasting, or glassetching.

The wiring coupling structure according to the present modification canobtain the same action and effect as these of the wiring couplingstructure according to the first modification. The edge face 3T of thecounter substrate 3 is inclined from the surface 3P of the countersubstrate 3 toward the sealing member 9 a. Therefore, the wiringcoupling structure according to the present modification enables tosmoothen a pathway, on which the conductor 50 is formed, from the touchdetection electrode TDL formed on the surface 3P of the countersubstrate 3 to the electrode 7 formed on the surface 2P of the pixelsubstrate 2. As a result, the wiring coupling structure according to thepresent modification prevents the sharp change in the shape of theconductor 50 provided across the step 8, thus reducing the possibilityof the disconnection of the conductor 50 at the step 8.

Third Modification

FIG. 17 is a plan view of a wiring coupling structure of a touchdetection electrode according to the third modification of the firstembodiment. In the wiring coupling structure according to the presentmodification, where a structure in which the conductor support member 51or the sealing member 9 as the conductor support member is provided upto a position away from the edge face 3T of the counter substrate 3, aportion where the conductor 50 is provided has hydrophilic property anda portion where the conductor 50 is not provided has water-repellentproperty. With this structure, the conductor 50 is surely formed on theportion where the conductive paste as the conductor 50 is to beprovided, and because the portion between adjacent conductors 50 iswater-repellent, adhesion of the conductive paste thereto can beprevented. As a result, the adjacent conductors 50 can be surelyseparated from each other, thus ensuring the insulation between theconductors 50.

The wiring coupling structure according to the present modification canbe applied to the display units with a touch detection function 10, 10a, and 10 b. A portion of hydrophilic property (hydrophilic portion) 52and a portion of water-repellent property (water-repellent portion) 53can be formed by, for example, using hydrophobic reaction with activeradiation such as ultraviolet rays or patterning a material with acontact angle different from a material of the step 8.

Fourth Modification

FIG. 18 is a plan view of a display device with a touch detectionfunction according to the fourth modification of the first embodiment.As explained above, the conductors 50 are arranged around the positionof the electronic component 5 mounted on the pixel substrate 2 asillustrated in FIG. 10. The display unit with a touch detection function10 illustrated in FIG. 10 has the conductors 50 arranged on one side ofthe electronic component 5. Whereas, as illustrated in FIG. 18, adisplay unit with a touch detection function 10 c according to thepresent modification has the conductors 50 arranged on both sides of theelectronic component 5. With this arrangement, interference between theconductors 50 and the electronic component 5 can be avoided, andconcentration of the conductors 50 to one side of the electroniccomponent 5 can be prevented. The wiring coupling structure with theconductors 50 arranged on both sides of the electronic component 5 canalso be applied to the display units with a touch detection function 10,10 a, and 10 b.

1-6. Method of Manufacturing Display Device with Touch DetectionFunction

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a method of manufacturing the display devicewith a touch detection function according to the first embodiment. Themethod of manufacturing the display device with a touch detectionfunction is a method of manufacturing the display device with a touchdetection function 10 illustrated in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12. First of all,the pixel substrate 2 and the counter substrate 3 are bonded to eachother by the sealing member 9 illustrated in FIG. 11 (Step S101).Subsequently, wiring required for the pixel substrate 2 and the countersubstrate 3 is formed (Step S102). At this stage, a plurality of displayunits with a touch detection function 10 are connected to each other asone unit. Therefore, the display units with a touch detection function10 are cut off (scribed) into separate display units with a touchdetection function 10 (Step S103).

Thereafter, the space between the pixel substrate 2 and the countersubstrate 3 is injected with a liquid crystal and an injection hole issealed (Step S104). Thus, the liquid crystal layer 4 illustrated in FIG.11 is formed. The conductor support member 51 illustrated in FIG. 11 isthen formed on the edge face 3T of the counter substrate 3 in adirection along which the touch detection electrode TDL is extended onthe electrode 7 side illustrated in FIG. 11 (electronic component 5 sideillustrated in FIG. 10) (Step S105). The conductor support member 51 canbe formed by applying resin to the edge face 3T using, for example, adispenser or the like. Subsequently, the conductor 50 is formed on thesurface of the conductor support member 51 (Step S106), to electricallycouple the touch detection electrode TDL and the electrode 7 of thepixel substrate 2. The conductor 50 can be obtained by forming a patternof the conductive paste on the surface of the conductor support member51 using, for example, a dispenser, printing, or ink jet. A solventlesstype is preferably used as the conductive paste because there is lessvolume reduction. As is understood from the procedure, the liquidcrystal is injected and then the conductor 50 is formed. Therefore, toreduce the influence of temperature on the liquid crystal, it ispreferable to use the conductor 50 which is cured at comparatively lowtemperature.

The display unit with a touch detection function 10 is manufactured inthis manner. In addition, by coupling required wiring to the finisheddisplay unit with a touch detection function 10 or by attaching a coveror so thereto, the display device with a touch detection function iscompleted.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of another method of manufacturing the displaydevice with a touch detection function according to the firstembodiment. The method of manufacturing the display device with a touchdetection function is a method of manufacturing the display device witha touch detection function 10 a illustrated in FIG. 15. First of all,the pixel substrate 2 and the counter substrate 3 are bonded to eachother by the sealing member 9 a illustrated in FIG. 15 and the sealingmember 9 a is extended up to a position away from the edge face 3T ofthe counter substrate 3, to thereby form the conductor support member(Step S201). Step S202 to Step S204 are the same as Step S102 to StepS104, and explanation thereof is therefore not repeated.

After the liquid crystal is injected and the injection hole is sealed,the conductor 50 is provided on the edge face 3T side of the countersubstrate 3 in the direction along which the touch detection electrodeTDL is extended on the electrode 7 side illustrated in FIG. 15(electronic component 5 side illustrated in FIG. 10) (Step S105), toelectrically couple the touch detection electrode TDL and the electrode7 of the pixel substrate 2. When the display unit with a touch detectionfunction 10 b illustrated in FIG. 16 is to be manufactured, the edgeface 3T of the counter substrate 3 is processed after the cut-off atStep S203. Specifically, the edge face 3T of the counter substrate 3 inthe direction along which the touch detection electrode TDL is extendedon the electrode 7 side (electronic component 5 side illustrated in FIG.10) is obliquely processed by scribing or so. The display unit with atouch detection function 10 b is manufactured in this manner. Inaddition, by coupling required wiring to the finished display unit witha touch detection function 10 b or by attaching a cover or so thereto,the display device with a touch detection function is completed.

2. Second Embodiment 2-1. Wiring Coupling Structure

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of a wiring coupling structure of atouch detection electrode according to a second embodiment. FIG. 22 is aplan view of the wiring coupling structure of the touch detectionelectrode according to the second embodiment. A wiring couplingstructure provided in a display unit with a touch detection function 10d electrically couples the touch detection electrode TDL and theelectrode 7 via a wiring member 54. The wiring member 54 includes aconductor 55 that electrically couples at least the touch detectionelectrode TDL and the electrode 7 provided on the surface 2P of thepixel substrate 2, and a base material 56 for supporting the conductor55. The wiring member 54 is provided between the counter substrate 3 andthe pixel substrate 2 to electrically couple the touch detectionelectrode TDL and the electrode 7.

FIG. 23 to FIG. 25 are diagrams of the wiring member. The wiring member54 illustrated in FIG. 23 has a plurality of conductors 55 arranged in arow at predetermined intervals on the base material 56 such as resin.The base material 56 preferably has insulation properties. The basematerial 56 may be transparent or translucent. Used for the basematerial 56 are, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET),polycarbonate, and polyimide. As illustrated in FIG. 24, the basematerial 56 is a plate member which is rectangle in the plan view. Thebase material 56 has flexibility. The conductor 55 is also rectangle inthe plan view. In the present embodiment, the conductor 55 is anadhesive layer having conductivity. Examples of the adhesive layerhaving conductivity include, but not limited to, a conductive tape,conductive resin, and those in which conductive particles are dispersedinto the adhesive layer. A wiring member 54A illustrated in FIG. 25includes a non-conductive adhesive layer 57 arranged between adjacentconductors 55. By providing the non-conductive adhesive layer 57 betweenthe adjacent conductors 55 in this way, the adjacent conductors 55 canbe surely insulated from each other.

The wiring members 54 and 54A use the conductive adhesive layer as theconductor 55. Therefore, when the wiring members 54 and 54A are used,the conductor 55 is pressed onto the touch detection electrode TDL oronto wiring pulled out of the touch detection electrode TDL, onto theelectrode 7 of the pixel substrate 2 or wiring pulled out of theelectrode 7, and the like, and this enables conduction between thesecomponents and the conductor 55. As a result, by using the wiring member54, manufacturing of the display unit with a touch detection function 10d and the display device with a touch detection function including thesame is facilitated.

As illustrated in FIG. 21 and FIG. 22, the wiring member 54 is providedalong a portion of the step 8, so that the wiring pulled out of thetouch detection electrode TDL of the counter substrate 3 and the wiringpulled out of the electrode 7 provided on the pixel substrate 2 areelectrically coupled to each other by using the conductor 55. In thewiring member 54, although the conductor 55 is opposed to the edge face3T, the conductor 55 is arranged apart from the edge face 3T. Moreover,as explained above, because the conductors 55 are arranged on the wiringmember 54 at predetermined intervals, the conductive paste does notspread over the space between the counter substrate 3 and the pixelsubstrate 2. In addition, the base material 56 has flexibility, thusreducing the possibility of disconnection of the conductor 55 supportedby the base material 56.

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of a wiring coupling structure of atouch detection electrode according to modification of the secondembodiment. FIG. 27 is a plan view of the wiring coupling structure ofthe touch detection electrode according to the modification of thesecond embodiment. The wiring coupling structure of the display unitwith a touch detection function 10 d illustrated in FIG. 21 and FIG. 22electrically couples the wiring pulled out of the touch detectionelectrode TDL and the wiring pulled out of the electrode 7 provided onthe pixel substrate 2 using the conductor 55 of the wiring member 54. Onthe other hand, a wiring coupling structure of a display unit with atouch detection function 10 e illustrated in FIG. 26 and FIG. 27electrically couples the touch detection electrode TDL and the electrode7 provided on the pixel substrate 2 using a conductor 55 e of a wiringmember 54 e. In other words, the conductor 55 e of the wiring member 54e is used as both the wiring pulled out of the touch detection electrodeTDL and the wiring pulled out of the electrode 7. By thus doing, thereis no need to form the wiring pulled out of the touch detectionelectrode TDL and the wiring pulled out of the electrode 7 on thecounter substrate 3 and the pixel substrate 2 respectively. Therefore,the time taken to manufacture the display unit with a touch detectionfunction 10 e can be reduced. The wiring member 54 e has a base material56 e which is larger in size, by an extended portion of the conductor 55e, than that of the wiring member 54 provided in the display unit with atouch detection function 10 d illustrated in FIG. 21 and FIG. 22.

2-2. Method of Manufacturing Display Device with Touch DetectionFunction

FIG. 28 is a flowchart of a method of manufacturing the display devicewith a touch detection function according to the second embodiment. StepS301 to Step S304 in the manufacturing method are the same as Step S101to Step S104 in the above-described manufacturing method (see FIG. 19),and the explanation thereof is therefore not repeated. After the liquidcrystal is injected and the injection hole is sealed, the wiring member54 (54A, 54 e) is provided on the edge face 3T side of the countersubstrate 3 on the electrode 7 side illustrated in FIG. 21 and FIG. 26in a direction along which the touch detection electrode TDL isextended. The touch detection electrode TDL and the electrode 7 of thepixel substrate 2 are then electrically coupled to each other via theconductor 55 of the wiring member 54. The display units with a touchdetection function 10 d and 10 e are manufactured in this manner. Inaddition, by coupling required wiring to the finished display units witha touch detection function 10 d and 10 e or by attaching a cover or sothereto, the display device with a touch detection function iscompleted.

3. Application Examples

As application examples according to the present disclosure, examples ofapplying the display device with a touch detection function 1 to anelectronic apparatus will be explained below.

FIG. 29 to FIG. 40 are diagrams of examples of an electronic apparatusincluding the display device with a touch detection function accordingto the present embodiment. The display device with a touch detectionfunction 1 can be applied to electronic apparatuses in all areas such astelevision devices, digital cameras, notebook personal computers,portable electronic apparatuses such as mobile phones, or video cameras.In other words, the display device with a touch detection function 1 canbe applied to electronic apparatuses in all areas that display anexternally input video signal or an internally generated video signal asan image or a video.

Application Example 1

The electronic apparatus illustrated in FIG. 29 is a television deviceto which the display device with a touch detection function 1 isapplied. Examples of the television device include, but are not limitedto, a video display screen unit 510 including a front panel 511 and afilter glass 512, and the display device with a touch detection function1 is applied to the video display screen unit 510. In other words, thescreen of the television device has a function of detecting a touchoperation in addition to a function of displaying an image.

Application Example 2

The electronic apparatus illustrated in FIG. 30 and FIG. 31 is a digitalcamera to which the display device with a touch detection function 1 isapplied. Examples of the digital camera include, but are not limited to,a light emitting unit 521 for a flash, a display unit 522, a menu switch523, and a shutter button 524, and the display device with a touchdetection function 1 is applied to the display unit 522. Therefore, thedisplay unit 522 of the digital camera has the function of detecting atouch operation in addition to the function of displaying an image.

Application Example 3

The electronic apparatus illustrated in FIG. 32 represents an appearanceof a video camera to which the display device with a touch detectionfunction 1 is applied. Examples of the video camera include, but are notlimited to, a main body 531, a lens 532 for photographing a subjectprovided on the front side face of the main body 531, a start/stopswitch 533 in photographing, and a display unit 534. The display devicewith a touch detection function 1 is applied to the display unit 534.Therefore, the display unit 534 of the video camera has the function ofdetecting a touch operation in addition to the function of displaying animage.

Application Example 4

The electronic apparatus illustrated in FIG. 33 is a notebook personalcomputer to which the display device with a touch detection function 1is applied. Examples of the notebook personal computer include, but arenot limited to, a main body 541, a keyboard 542 for performing an inputoperation of text and the like, and a display unit 543 that displays animage. The display device with a touch detection function 1 is appliedto the display unit 543. Therefore, the display unit 543 of the notebookpersonal computer has the function of detecting a touch operation inaddition to the function of displaying an image.

Application Example 5

The electronic apparatus illustrated in FIG. 34 to FIG. 40 is a mobilephone to which the display device with a touch detection function 1 isapplied. The mobile phone is configured to couple, for example, an upperhousing 551 and a lower housing 552 with a coupling portion (hingeportion) 553, and include a display 554, a sub-display 555, a picturelight 556, and a camera 557. The display device with a touch detectionfunction 1 is installed into the display 554. Therefore, the display 554of the mobile phone has the function of detecting a touch operation inaddition to the function of displaying an image.

4. Aspects of Present Disclosure

The present disclosure includes aspects as follows.

(1) A display device with a touch detection function comprising:

a plurality of drive elements that perform a display operation based ona pixel signal and a display drive signal;

a touch detection electrode that detects proximity or contact of anobject based on an excitation signal;

a drive electrode to which the excitation signal fluctuated at least inlevel at a predetermined cycle is applied in order to detect theproximity or the contact of the object;

a first substrate on which the drive elements are provided;

a second substrate on which at least one of the touch detectionelectrode and the drive electrode is provided, the second substratebeing bonded to the first substrate to face each other via a sealingmember;

a conductor that electrically is coupled to at least one of the touchdetection electrode and the drive electrode; and

a conductor support member that fills a space between the firstsubstrate and the second substrate at a position of at least one edgeface of the second substrate or in a manner protruding in a directionfarther away from the sealing member than the position of the edge face,and on the surface of which the conductor is provided.

(2) The display device with a touch detection function according to (1),wherein the conductor support member is a resin layer configured to

cover at least a portion from the edge face to a part of a surface ofthe first substrate, and

become smaller in size in a direction perpendicular to the surface ofthe first substrate with the separation thereof from the edge face.

(3) The display device with a touch detection function according to (1),wherein the conductor support member is the sealing member that isprovided up to a position of the edge face or up to a position away fromthe edge face.

(4) The display device with a touch detection function according to (3),wherein the edge face is configured to become smaller in size in adirection perpendicular to a surface of the second substrate withextension thereof toward the outside of the second substrate.

(5) The display device with a touch detection function according to (1),wherein the conductor is conductive paste.

(6) The display device with a touch detection function according to (1),wherein the conductor support member includes

a portion where the conductor is provided and has hydrophilic property,and

a portion where no conductor is provided and has water-repellentproperty.

(7) The display device with a touch detection function according to (1),wherein the conductor is provided around a position of an electroniccomponent mounted on the first substrate.

(8) The display device with a touch detection function according to (7),wherein the conductor is provided in plurality and includes one providedon one side of the electronic component and another provided on anotherside thereof.

(9) A display device with a touch detection function comprising:

a plurality of drive elements that perform a display operation based ona pixel signal and a display drive signal;

a touch detection electrode that detects proximity or contact of anobject based on an excitation signal;

a first substrate on which the drive elements are provided;

a second substrate on which the touch detection electrode is provided,the second substrate being bonded to the first substrate to face eachother via a sealing member; and

a wiring member that includes

-   -   a conductor for electrically coupling at least the touch        detection electrode and an electrode provided on a surface of        the first substrate and    -   a base material for supporting the conductor,

and that is provided between the second substrate and the firstsubstrate.

(10) The display device with a touch detection function according to(9), wherein the wiring member is provided around a position of anelectronic component mounted on the first substrate.

(11) An electronic apparatus comprising:

a display device with a touch detection function according to (1).

(12) A method of manufacturing a display device with a touch detectionfunction, the method comprising:

bonding a first substrate on which a plurality of drive elements areformed and a second substrate on which a touch detection electrode isformed using a sealing member;

injecting liquid crystal into between the first substrate and the secondsubstrate and sealing an injection hole;

providing a resin layer at least on an edge face where the touchdetection electrode of the second substrate is pulled out and a portionof a surface of the first substrate; and

providing a conductor electrically coupling to the touch detectionelectrode on a surface of the resin layer.

(13) A method of manufacturing a display device with a touch detectionfunction, the method comprising:

bonding a first substrate on which a plurality of drive elements areformed and a second substrate on which a touch detection electrode isformed via sealing member that is protruded at least from an edge facewhere the touch detection electrode of the second substrate is pulledout;

injecting liquid crystal into between the first substrate and the secondsubstrate and sealing an injection hole; and providing a conductor forelectrically coupling the touch detection electrode of the secondsubstrate and an electrode provided on a surface of the first substrate.

(14) The method of manufacturing a display device with a touch detectionfunction according to (13), the method further comprising:

processing at least the edge face where the touch detection electrode ofthe second substrate is pulled out so that a size of the edge face in adirection perpendicular to a surface of the second substrate becomessmaller with extension of the edge face toward the outside of the secondsubstrate.

The display device with a touch detection function and the electronicapparatus with the same according to the present disclosure includes theconductor support member that fills a space between the first substrateand the second substrate and has the conductor as wiring provided on itssurface. Because the conductor support member fills the space betweenthe first substrate and the second substrate, even if the conductor suchas conductive paste is provided on the surface of the conductor supportmember, entering of the conductor into the space and spread thereof canbe prevented. As a result, the present disclosure is capable of surelyexerting the function of the wiring for electrically coupling both ofthe substrates, outside the substrates.

The display device with a touch detection function and the electronicapparatus with the same according to the present disclosure use thewiring member that includes the conductor for electrically coupling thetouch detection electrode and the electrode provided on the surface ofthe first substrate and the base material for supporting the conductor,and arrange the conductor which is separated from the space between thefirst substrate and the second substrate. As a result, the presentdisclosure is capable of surely exerting the function of the wiring forelectrically coupling both of the substrates, outside the substrates.

The method of manufacturing a display device with a touch detectionfunction according to the present disclosure is capable of manufacturingthe display device with a touch detection function according to thepresent disclosure.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the function of thewiring for electrically coupling between the both of the substrates canbe surely exerted at the outer side thereof.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present subjectmatter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is thereforeintended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appendedclaims.

The invention is claimed as follows:
 1. A display device with a touchdetection function comprising: a plurality of drive elements thatperform a display operation based on a pixel signal and a display drivesignal; a touch detection electrode that detects proximity or contact ofan object based on an excitation signal; a drive electrode to which theexcitation signal fluctuated at least in level at a predetermined cycleis applied in order to detect the proximity or the contact of theobject; a first substrate on which the drive elements are provided; asecond substrate on which at least one of the touch detection electrodeand the drive electrode is provided, the second substrate being bondedto the first substrate to face each other via a sealing member; aconductor that electrically is coupled to at least one of the touchdetection electrode and the drive electrode; and a conductor supportmember that fills a space between the first substrate and the secondsubstrate at a position of at least one edge face of the secondsubstrate or in a manner protruding in a direction farther away from thesealing member than the position of the edge face, and on the surface ofwhich the conductor is provided.
 2. The display device with a touchdetection function according to claim 1, wherein the conductor supportmember is a resin layer configured to cover at least a portion from theedge face to a part of a surface of the first substrate, and becomesmaller in size in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the firstsubstrate with the separation thereof from the edge face.
 3. The displaydevice with a touch detection function according to claim 1, wherein theconductor support member is the sealing member that is provided up to aposition of the edge face or up to a position away from the edge face.4. The display device with a touch detection function according to claim3, wherein the edge face is configured to become smaller in size in adirection perpendicular to a surface of the second substrate withextension thereof toward the outside of the second substrate.
 5. Thedisplay device with a touch detection function according to claim 1,wherein the conductor is conductive paste.
 6. The display device with atouch detection function according to claim 1, wherein the conductorsupport member includes a portion where the conductor is provided andhas hydrophilic property, and a portion where no conductor is providedand has water-repellent property.
 7. The display device with a touchdetection function according to claim 1, wherein the conductor isprovided around a position of an electronic component mounted on thefirst substrate.
 8. The display device with a touch detection functionaccording to claim 7, wherein the conductor is provided in plurality andincludes one provided on one side of the electronic component andanother provided on another side thereof.
 9. A display device with atouch detection function comprising: a plurality of drive elements thatperform a display operation based on a pixel signal and a display drivesignal; a touch detection electrode that detects proximity or contact ofan object based on an excitation signal; a first substrate on which thedrive elements are provided; a second substrate on which the touchdetection electrode is provided, the second substrate being bonded tothe first substrate to face each other via a sealing member; and awiring member that includes a conductor for electrically coupling atleast the touch detection electrode and an electrode provided on asurface of the first substrate and a base material for supporting theconductor, and that is provided between the second substrate and thefirst substrate.
 10. The display device with a touch detection functionaccording to claim 9, wherein the wiring member is provided around aposition of an electronic component mounted on the first substrate. 11.An electronic apparatus comprising: a display device with a touchdetection function according to claim
 1. 12. A method of manufacturing adisplay device with a touch detection function, the method comprising:bonding a first substrate on which a plurality of drive elements areformed and a second substrate on which a touch detection electrode isformed using a sealing member; injecting liquid crystal into between thefirst substrate and the second substrate and sealing an injection hole;providing a resin layer at least on an edge face where the touchdetection electrode of the second substrate is pulled out and a portionof a surface of the first substrate; and providing a conductorelectrically coupling to the touch detection electrode on a surface ofthe resin layer.
 13. A method of manufacturing a display device with atouch detection function, the method comprising: bonding a firstsubstrate on which a plurality of drive elements are formed and a secondsubstrate on which a touch detection electrode is formed via sealingmember that is protruded at least from an edge face where the touchdetection electrode of the second substrate is pulled out; injectingliquid crystal into between the first substrate and the second substrateand sealing an injection hole; and providing a conductor forelectrically coupling the touch detection electrode of the secondsubstrate and an electrode provided on a surface of the first substrate.14. The method of manufacturing a display device with a touch detectionfunction according to claim 13, the method further comprising:processing at least the edge face where the touch detection electrode ofthe second substrate is pulled out so that a size of the edge face in adirection perpendicular to a surface of the second substrate becomessmaller with extension of the edge face toward the outside of the secondsubstrate.